Article by
Marlon Madden

Published on
April 16, 2018

Sugar cane vendors along the island’s roadways are coming under suspicion as concerns are being raised about the apparent lack of enforcement of legislation enacted five months ago to combat praedial larceny.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Andrew Gittens today suggested that a number of people selling sugar cane and other products along the roadways did not legally obtain those products but were not being prosecuted because the Protection of Agriculture Products and Livestock Act was not being enforced.

“Only this weekend I was passing down [a section of] the highway and I [saw] a couple fellows with sugar cane. While I can’t say that they didn’t plant the cane it is highly unlikely these fellows are cane producers,” Gittens told the final stakeholder consultation the Savannah Beach Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church, to assess the skills needs of the agriculture and fisheries divisions.

The laws, which was passed in Parliament at the end of November last year, makes it mandatory for anyone selling or “disposing of” agricultural produce or livestock to obtain certificates of purchase.

The legislation, designed mainly to tackle preadial larceny, also requires the same certificate to be produced by the purchaser or any person possessing the items, when requested by a warden.

Those who fail to comply face fines of up to $5,000, up to three years in prison, or both.

Gittens, who spoke today on behalf of Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick, said the legislation was meant “to ensure that farmers can reap what they plant and who don’t plant can’t reap what they didn’t plant. I think what we need now is some enforcement though”.

Similar sentiments were shared by Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo, who said with the legislation now in place the sale of agriculture produce along sections of the roadways should be better monitored.

“As I align myself with those concern, this is a good opportunity to remind us too that we now have the praedial larceny legislation in place, and that should allow us to put structures in place that we can manage and control better, those things that we see happening at the side of the street,’ Byer-Suckoo said.

During the one-day event – the final in a series of meetings involving industry officials – the participants sought to identify current gaps between training and the needs of the sector, and to identify emerging occupation and skills requirements.

Gittens said the assessment, which started last October and is being funded by the European Union, formed part of the ministry’s ongoing strategic thrust to reposition the sector.

“The intention is to ensure that we not only have a well-trained cadre of staff, but that we also have a clear picture of what is required for the sector, both in terms of skills and the supported level of training,” he said.

“Given where we are economically as a nation, it is vital to ensure that this ministry has the right set of skills and people to carry out its mandate. These initiatives were pursued by the ministry, not by chance, but were intentional in design and purpose to further nurture and spur the growth in the agriculture sector,” Gittens explained. (MM)

Mr Gittens point is only on the sale of sugar cane or is he speaking about selling on the highway. When these guys are selling grapes, dunks, ackees, coconuts, apples, what then, seeing these products can be obtain in the wild and not necessary on a farm or someone plot of land. The police must stop every child, woman that selling the above and ask them to show proof of ownership. Why did Mr Gittens not stop and do his civic duty when he saw the people with the sugar canes. by the way Mr Gittens I know of a good set of people now buying sugarcane, peling and bagging for resale. Quite frankly to me you see all vendors on the highways as criminals.

Permanent Secretary —– today suggested that a number of people selling sugar cane and other products along the roadways did not legally obtain those products.
This is pure conjecture on your part and a dangerous statement to make.
Should know better. Sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A while back I saw a man on a bicycle loaded down with canes, packed into a sack. The cut pieces of canes were about 3 feet long, each. He was selling each piece at $5. This particular chap I know for certain got his stock from a plantation in Ch Ch, just off the ABC Highway.

I don’t believe Mr. Gittens in wrong in his assessment. They are lots of people selling produce that they do not plant nor purchase. How many persons do we know that plant crop of cane?
The police takes a lot for granted but I believe they should be officers employed by the Ministry of Agriculture going around the country requesting proof of purchase for items being sold.

On the other hand , we will hear that JOBS are not there so the “small Black Man” must find a way to support his Family. If you shut him down ,
He might turn to selling “weed of going into people homes at any cost”.
I was told that some coconut vendors make BDS$500. per day.
Some guys go out and slaughter people ANIMALS at night leaving “skin, Head and Feet” behind. If the Court don’t get serious these fellers will continue along their merry way.

A lot of people do dishonest things in life from Prime Minister to the road vendor.it makes no sense picking one profession and painting that profession as a den of thieves. Stealing is in all profession.

Cecil You cannot justify law breaking because you FEEL that someone else is breaking the law.
If we adopt that attitude where will the law breaking end?
Should I break into someone’s house and steal because mine was broken into and items taken? We have to be careful how we comment on certain matters.
I myself was wondering how these guys at Hothersal and Bussa were able to so blatantly sell sugar cane even before the crop started. I concluded that since no one stopped them their merchandise was LEGALLY obtained.

Mr John Carter,
just like Mr Gittens it seem to me that you believe that any person selling on the roads of Barbados is a criminal because your suspicion is they are selling stolen goods. I tell you I went on a cruise ship, and one of the stops was Barbados, went on a island tour and was given sugar cane, goose berries, ackees, dunks, by an upstanding business in Barbados in the month of December , I know for sure this business is not into agriculture. I am sure that if you or Mr Gittens went to that establishment, there will be no suspicion on how that business got it’s agricultural products.,